We will win the trophy, says Shah Rukh

Kolkata, April 30 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, says he is confident that his team will win the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 trophy. A day after Kolkata Knight Riders faced their second consecutive defeat losing to Mumbai Indians on their home ground Eden Gardens here Tuesday, Shah Rukh Wednesday reposed his trust in the team.

“We Knight Riders are positive. We know that we will win some matches and lose some. But ultimately the IPL trophy will be ours,” Shah Rukh said before leaving the city.

After starting their campaign on a high note winning their first two matches - against Bangalore Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers, the Sourav Ganguly-led Knight Riders lost to Kings XI Punjab and then a resurgent Mumbai Indians Tuesday night.

Is the team not at all affected by the defeats?

“The seniors like Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting know that to achieve success you have to understand and accept failure. But the youngsters in the team were feeling a bit low. So I decided to stay back with them here a little longer. We even arranged for a private get-together and danced till 4 a.m,” said Shah Rukh.

And how does he personally see this defeat at the home ground?

“Kolkatans know that Knight Riders will never let them down. As for me, I have been successful for the last 20 years because I know how to ride over failure. Kabhi kabhi jeetne ke liye haarna bhi parta hai aur haarkar jeetne wale ko baazigar kehte hai. And we are beyond baazigars, we are the Knight Riders,” Shah Rukh said recollecting his famous dialogue from the film “Baazigar”.

Is the team suffering from captain Sourav Ganguly’s off-form?

“You can’t question ace players like Sourav Ganguly. He is aware of his form more than even coach John Buchanan and will sort out things himself.

Will Kolkata see Shahrukh in all the Knight Riders matches?

“I don’t know about other cities. But I have worked out my calendar in a way that I don’t miss a single match in Kolkata. This city is our hub, it’s like being home.”